-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An ex-convict , a mobster , a serial killer -- after more than two decades in the movie business , Ray Liotta is still perhaps best known for these `` bad guy '' roles in such films as `` Something Wild '' and `` GoodFellas . ''

Ray Liotta -LRB- right -RRB- co-stars with Seth Rogen in `` Observe and Report , '' which opened Friday .

But in his most recent film , `` Observe and Report '' -- a dark comedy co-starring Seth Rogen as a bipolar mall security guard and Anna Faris as the vapid make-up counter clerk he 's in love with -- Liotta inches away from his edgy persona to play a detective investigating a flashing incident at the mall .

`` A flasher keeps flashing people at the mall , so they call in the ` real police , ' which is me , '' Liotta told the Columbus Dispatch . `` The last thing I want to do is investigate . ''

The film , which opened in theaters Friday and has earned rave reviews by critics , is not Liotta 's first comedic undertaking . The 54-year-old actor also starred in 2007 's `` Wild Hogs , '' a comedy co-starring Tim Allen and John Travolta about a group of middle-aged suburban men who decide to become bikers . The film was one of that year 's surprise hits , taking in more than $ 150 million at the domestic box office . See some of the highlights of Liotta 's career ''

Liotta first made his mark on the film industry by playing a psychotic ex-husband determined to win back his ex-wife in `` Something Wild . '' The role propelled Liotta to fame and earned him a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor .

From there , Liotta starred as mobster Henry Hill in the Martin Scorsese classic `` Goodfellas '' -LRB- 1990 -RRB- , working alongside renowned actors Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci .

`` Edgy guys stand out in people 's minds , '' Liotta said of his famous `` bad guy '' roles , according to the Dispatch .

But , to avoid being typecast as the `` bad guy '' forever , Liotta decided to break from the mold in his next role as a caring father in the heartwarming film `` Corrina , Corrina '' -LRB- 1994 -RRB- , co-starring Whoopi Goldberg .

Liotta soon proved that acting was not his only forte . He formed his own production company in 2002 and made his debut as a producer on the film `` Narc , '' in which he also starred as a corrupt cop .

He 's also earned plaudits for his television work . In 2004 , Liotta starred in an episode of the hit NBC drama , `` ER , '' winning an Emmy for his guest appearance . The actor got his start on daytime TV , playing the character Joey Perrini on the soap `` Another World . ''

With several films currently in production , Liotta shows no signs of stopping . The actor told the Dispatch that he hopes to try his hand at romance in the future , joking that he 'd like to `` kiss the girl without having to choke her first . ''

CNN 's David Daniel contributed to this story .

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Ray Liotta known for bad-guy roles such as gangsters , serial killers

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Liotta tries something a little different with comedy `` Observe and Report ''

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`` Edgy guys stand out in people 's minds , '' Liotta has said